There’s no single “correct” way to wear makeup, but for the purpose of this blog we’ll compare one example of everyday makeup to stage makeup to highlight the differences between the two. In this post, we’ll examine some of the common trends in stage makeup for dance that set it apart from other styles of makeup.

Everyday Makeup

In this style of everyday makeup, the idea is to highlight and enhance your features with a less-is-more approach. A touch of concealer, mascara, brow gel, and lip gloss results in a light, fresh, and youthful look.

Stage Makeup for Dance

Stage makeup is meant to take the features of your face and amp them up so that they don’t disappear under the lights. If you were to wear a light face of makeup onstage, the lights would turn you into a faceless entity (which could be a cool artistic choice) and most choreographers don’t want that. Nowadays, the trend is to wear makeup that gives dancers hyper expressive faces. Emotive performances grab an audience’s attention and help the audience to connect to the dancers. Foundation is often a shade or two darker than the dancer’s natural skin tone to combat the washing-out effect that the lights have on faces. Eyebrows are darkened and defined, heavy false lashes are applied, blush gets piled on and lip colours are usually bold and bright.

Overall, makeup is an artistic tool that people use for a variety of reasons and with a range of techniques. If you have any stage makeup tips or tricks, feel free to contact us and let us know.